NFPA 495, Explosive Materials Code

NFPA^® 495 Explosive Materials Code, 2023 Edition

Chapter 1 Administration

1.1 Scope.
1.2 Purpose.
1.3 Application.
1.4 Retroactivity.
1.5 Equivalency.
1.6 Enforcement.

Chapter 2 Referenced Publications

2.1 General.
2.2 NFPA Publications.
2.3 Other Publications.
2.4 References for Extracts in Mandatory Sections.

Chapter 3 Definitions

3.1 General.
3.2 NFPA Official Definitions.
3.3 General Definitions.

Chapter 4 Security and Safety of Explosive Materials

4.1 Basic Requirements.
4.2 Permit Requirements.
4.3 Permit Classes.
4.4 Requirements for Blaster's Permit.
4.5 Posting of Permits.
4.6 Permit Restrictions.
4.7 Denial or Revocation of Permits.
4.8 Record Keeping and Reporting.
4.9 Applications.
4.10 Renewals.

Chapter 5 Manufacturing and Testing

5.1 Scope.
5.2 General Requirements.
5.3 Classification and Characterization of Energetic Materials Used in Process Operations.
5.4 Buildings and Equipment.
5.5 Operations.
5.6 Explosive Materials Testing Sites.

Chapter 6 Blasting Agents

6.1 Scope.
6.2 Fixed Location Mixing.
6.3 Bulk Mixing and Delivery Vehicles.
6.4 Bulk Storage Bins.
6.5 Storage of Blasting Agents and Supplies.
6.6 Transportation of Packaged Blasting Agents.
6.7 Use of Blasting Agents.

Chapter 7 Water Gel, Slurry, and Emulsion Explosive Materials

7.1 Scope.
7.2 Fixed Location Mixing.
7.3 Bulk Mixing and Delivery Vehicles.
7.4 Storage of Water Gels, Slurries, and Emulsions.

Chapter 8 Transportation of Explosive Materials on Highways

8.1 Basic Requirements.
8.2 Transportation Vehicles.
8.3 Operation of Transportation Vehicles.

Chapter 9 Aboveground Storage of Explosive Materials

9.1 Scope.
9.2 Basic Requirements.
9.3 Classification and Use of Magazines.
9.4 Location of Magazines.
9.5 Magazine Construction — Basic Requirements.
9.6 Magazine Construction — Requirements for Specific Types.
9.7 Storage Within Magazines.
9.8 Miscellaneous Safety Precautions.

Chapter 10 Use of Explosive Materials for Blasting

10.1 Basic Requirements.
10.2 Preblast Operations.
10.3 Initiating Blasts.
10.4 Procedures After Blasting.
10.5 Misfires.
10.6 Disposal of Explosive Materials.

Chapter 11 Ground Vibration, Air Overpressure, Flyrock, and Gases

11.1 Basic Requirements.
11.2 Ground Vibration.
11.3 Air Overpressure.
11.4 Flyrock.
11.5 Gases.

Chapter 12 Explosive Materials at Piers and Railway, Truck, and Air Terminals

12.1 Basic Requirements.
12.2 Notifications.
12.3 Facilities for Trailer-on-Flatcar and Container-on-Flatcar.
12.4 Designation of Facilities.

Chapter 13 Precursor Chemicals

13.1 Basic Requirements.
13.2 Storage.
13.3 Use.
13.4 Record Keeping and Reporting.

Chapter 14 Small Arms Ammunition and Primers, Smokeless Propellants, and Black Powder Propellants

14.1 Basic Requirements.
14.2 Small Arms Ammunition.
14.3 Smokeless Propellants.
14.4 Black Powder.
14.5 Small Arms Primers.

Annex A Explanatory Material
Annex B Sample Ordinance Adopting NFPA 495
Annex C Recommended Separation Distances of Ammonium Nitrate and Blasting Agents from Explosives or Blasting Agents
Annex D Magazine Construction
Annex E U.S. Department of Transportation Proposed Revisions of Explosive Materials Transport Regulations
Annex F Informational References

2018 Edition

Control hazards when handling explosives using new requirements in the 2018 edition of NFPA 495, Explosive Materials Code.

NFPA 495, Explosive Materials Code identifies reasonable levels of safety for the manufacture, transportation, storage, sale, and use of explosive materials, including blasting agents, water gel and emulsion materials, smokeless propellants, black powder propellants, and small arms ammunition. NFPA 495 does not apply to transportation of such material used for military purposes or when under jurisdiction of the federal government.

Important changes in the 2018 edition address electrical wiring.

Updates to Chapter 5 requirements in the Electrical Wiring and Equipment section provide better guidance on where to design and install watertight and dusttight equipment when in proximity of explosive materials.

Additional updates help improve blasting protocols.

Changes in Chapter 10, Use of Explosive Materials for Blasting, added responsibilities for the blaster-in-charge to prevent potential conflict with project manager responsibilities. Additionally, Chapter 10 adopted requirements for recording blast records to better align with federal and state regulations.

Compliance with this important Code is essential for explosives manufacturers; small arms manufacturers, distributors, or retailers; or enforcers such as fire and building officials. (Print 68 pp., 2018)

2013 Edition

Control hazards when handling explosives by complying with the latest safety provisions in the 2013 NFPA 495.

NFPA 495: Explosive Materials Code identifies reasonable levels of safety for the manufacture, transportation, storage, sale, and use of explosive materials, including blasting agents, water gel and emulsion materials, smokeless propellants, black powder propellants, and small arms ammunition. It does not apply to transportation of such material used for military purposes or when under jurisdiction of the federal government.

The 2013 edition features a major revision on the ground vibration chapter, including:

• Additional requirements pertaining to use of seismographs
• An expanded Air Overpressure section that adds in a maximum allowable limit of air overpressure, 133 dB

This important Code is essential for explosives manufacturers; small arms manufacturers, distributors, or retailers; or enforcers such as fire and building officials. (Softbound, 58 pp., 2013)

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